Monday PSA: Robin and the ONISGS
Two common techniques used in PSA comics are the OMGIHTSTHTM and the ONISGS.
The OMGIHTSTHTM (better known as the Oh My God, I Had That Same Thing Happen To Me) occurs when a character reveals a previously unknown bit of personal history that just happens to fit the topic du jour perfectly. This personal history is rarely, if ever, mentioned again. A perfect example of this is Spider-Man’s previously unrevealed history of child molestation in the Spider-Man and Power Pack Special.
The ONISGS (also known as Oh No, I Suddenly Got Stupid) usually applies to sidekicks or teen heroes in PSA comics. Characters who previously have always been shown to be clever (or at least competent) suddenly lose all knowledge of a particular topic and have to learn about it all over again. Usually the hard way.
Today’s PSA ad is an example of an ONISGS. Robin, the most capable and intelligent of all the teen heroes, is revealed to know absolutely nothing about AIDS. Luckily he has a butler to show him the error of his ways.
No wonder he quit being Robin.
- Click on the image for a larger view.
- I like the way he leaves the Batcave — with one of the most advanced computer systems in the world — to “get some facts.” Where? Is he going to go rough up some viruses?
- Also, “HIV Virus” is redundant. The V in HIV already stands for “Virus”
February 14th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I remember that one from my back issues. That was part of a campain at the time. There was at least one just like it, only I think it had the Justice League. Ever see it?
February 14th, 2006 at 7:33 am
I remember another one with Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Fire. Booster and Beetle were talking about all the women they’ve been with (or something like that) and Booster says something really stupid along the lines of how he doesn’t have to worry about sleeping with a woman who has AIDS because he only sleeps with NICE women. Fire then proceeds to berate him and explain how sometimes nice people have this happen to them. Or soemthing like that. Then I think it ends with Maxwell Lord coming in and shooting Beetle in the head. Or maybe I’m confusing things there.
February 14th, 2006 at 8:04 am
Official Comment
Now that you mention it, I do remember the one with Beetle, Booster and Fire. I’ll have to see if I can track it down for next week…
February 14th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
The one I really remember is where Superman saves two gay guys from a mob of angry people blaming them for AIDS, which was part of the same campaign.
February 14th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
HIV virus. SAT test. DC comics, sorta kinda. Happens all the time. When I lived in Baltimore, Congressman Kweisi Mfume sent out a flyer containing Five Things You Need to Know about AIDS, or some such, and I swear, one of them was that “It’s just HIV, not ‘HIV virus.’”
February 15th, 2006 at 7:44 am
And what’s Robin mean, ‘Kids don’t know that stuff. Nobody tells us.’ I don’t know about the Gotham schooling system or youth culture, but when I was that age (somewhat earlier than Tim was), we were informed by media and counsellors and leaflets and stuff all the time. Not being told wasn’t the problem, it was not listening.
February 17th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I still see that PSA in my comics…
it kinda sucks….
February 6th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Vertigo had the best of the PSA’s: A Neil Gaiman bit starring John Constantine and Death.
February 7th, 2007 at 7:23 am
I remember there was a “Captain Planet” episode that tackled AIDS. In it, Verminous Scumm (the rat-like villain) spreads misinformation about AIDS in school to ruin the life of a boy suffering from the disease. Why would you trust a guy in torn clothing, hiding his face behind a red scarf and draging a tail behind him is beyond me.
Still, the episode got me a bit of info on AIDS before they hit upon that topic in schools back in Poland, so I guess it served its purpose.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Anyone else get the video in fifth grade about AIDS that started with kids talking about rumors of how you got it? If you pet the cat of someone with AIDS you get AIDS! Dumbest educational moment ever even if it was showing how dumb people were about it.
Leave a Reply
Contact Me
About
Subscribe:
The Best Of...
Special Topics
Archives
Categories
Twitter
Comic Blogs
Medical/Science Blogs
Currently Reading
Arbitrarily Interesting Medical Condition
Syndrome
The Net:
Contents may have settled during shipping. Past results are no guarantee of future performance. No animals were harmed during the production of this product. Void where prohibited by law. All rights reserved. Not valid with other offers or specials. Professional driver on a closed track. Your financial institution may impose other fees. All models are over 18 years of age. Employees must wash hands before returning to work. Results not typical. Many suitcases look alike. 18% gratuity added to tables of six or more.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
© 2004-2010 Polite Dissent. Powered by WordPress